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Microsoft tweaks CRM to improve hosting
InfoWorld - Mar 27, 2006
com and NetSuite have "a close feedback loop" to their customers since they develop, deliver and host the software, she added. NaviSite and Telecom Italia are among the partners already hosting its CRM software, according to Wilson. "It's not going to be Microsoft CRM hosted in someone's closet," he quipped. Microsoft will advise users on what issues should be addressed in contracts with hosting providers, not only around SLAs (service level agreements), but also in relation to privacy and data ownership concerns, Wilson said. The software vendor hopes that its partners will build additional functionality on top of the vanilla Microsoft CRM software, particularly services targeting specific industries and geographies, he said. Microsoft is also due to announce on Monday the first of a number of prepackaged connectors. The company will announce that a connector between Microsoft's CRM and its Dynamics GP ERP (enterprise resource planning) applications is now available, with connectors for its other ERP software Dynamics NAV and Dynamics AX out in the first quarter of 2007... "It should be easy to connect Microsoft to Microsoft," analyst McCabe said. "The bottom line is they have to do it and they're kind of late. "A Microsoft CRM connector to the company's BizTalk Server and integration with Oracle's Siebel CRM software should become available in the third quarter of this year. Connector templates integrating Microsoft CRM via the company's BizTalk Server into ERP applications from Oracle and SAP will appear over the next 12 months, according to Wilson.
http://www.infoworld.com/archives/emailPrint.jsp?R=printThis&A=/article/06/03/27/76824_HNmstweakscrm_1.html
Microsoft improves business processes with Dynamics
VNUNet.com - Mar 29, 2006
In the opening keynote, Microsoft Business Division president Jeff Raikessaid Wave 1 of Microsoft's Dynamics strategy is now half complete, with CRM 3. 5 already shipping, and Dynamics AX 4.
http://www.vnunet.com/articles/print/2152966
Gates lays out future for enterprise apps
InfoWorld - Mar 27, 2006
's business software running in Dallas through Tuesday, the Microsoft chairman and chief software architect also shared his vision of a world of work in which "smart" tables will function as adhoc screens for mobile devices. He barely touched on the company's announcement Monday of its increased push into facilitating hosted versions of its CRM (customer relationship management) software as well as providing new integration capabilities for its Dynamics GP ERP (enterprise resource planning) product. Instead, Gates spoke in more general terms about the ongoing coming together of the "structured" world of financial and human resources applications with elements of the Internet world including the ability to do mashups, the blending of data and tools from different sources. He neatly sidestepped the issue of whether Microsoft plans to eventually enable the hosting of all its software. "We don't think there'll be a huge swing to one model at the expense of the other," Gates said in response to questions previously collected from Convergence attendees... 's business software running in Dallas through Tuesday, the Microsoft chairman and chief software architect also shared his vision of a world of work in which "smart" tables will function as adhoc screens for mobile devices. He barely touched on the company's announcement Monday of its increased push into facilitating hosted versions of its CRM (customer relationship management) software as well as providing new integration capabilities for its Dynamics GP ERP (enterprise resource planning) product. Instead, Gates spoke in more general terms about the ongoing coming together of the "structured" world of financial and human resources applications with elements of the Internet world including the ability to do mashups, the blending of data and tools from different sources. He neatly sidestepped the issue of whether Microsoft plans to eventually enable the hosting of all its software. "We don't think there'll be a huge swing to one model at the expense of the other," Gates said in response to questions previously collected from Convergence attendees. On-premise software will continue to have an appeal, with software hosting proving more popular with smaller companies, he added.
http://www.infoworld.com/archives/emailPrint.jsp?R=printThis&A=/article/06/03/27/76837_HNgatesfuture_1.html
Support grows for Eclipse
VNUNet.com - Mar 23, 2006
The moves were announced at the EclipseCon conference in America, and shouldhelp IT directors considering Eclipse-based development tools instead of purelycommercial alternatives such as Microsoft Visual Studio. Computing giant IBM announced new Eclipse services and tools, and said it waspiloting a new support offering for firms using the Eclipse platform. Thesupport offering is aimed at firms that want developers to use the open-sourceEclipse development environment with proprietary Eclipse based tools such asIBM's Rational branded tools. The firm also announced Rational Data Architect, an enterprise data modellingand integration design tool, and a beta version of Workplace Forms Designer 2,which enables designers to create XML forms describing business processes. Version 1 of the forms designer should be finished in the summer of 2007... Version 1 of the forms designer should be finished in the summer of 2007. IBM was a founding member of the Eclipse open source project and subsequentlyof the Eclipse Foundation. Separately, CRM vendor SugarCRM also announced that it had joined Eclipse,while Salesforce. com and Compuware each pledged their continued support for theopen source development project. Permalink to this story.
http://www.vnunet.com/articles/print/2152639
Apple vs. That Other Apple
BusinessWeek - Mar 29, 2006
And there is also the matter of online distribution of The Beatles songs. To this date, they can't be downloaded legally from any vendor. Rumors suggested last year that Microsoft (MSFT) had sought to negotiate rights with Apple Corps to carry The Beatles for download in time for the launch of its MSN Music service. The rumors died almost as soon as they surfaced, suggesting any negotiations had collapsed. And that represents yet another piece on the chess board. With its control of the world's most popular music download service, Apple Computer could offer The Beatles a huge promotional bonanza -- one that would represent a huge money-making opportunity for both parties. Such a deal could conceivably be worked out in the wake of a settlement between them, but here's the rub: Would Apple Corps go along with selling Beatles tracks for 99 cents, or would it demand richer terms that would lead to consumers paying higher prices? UNSETTLED SCORE.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2006/tc20060329_560215.htm?chan=technology_technology+index+page_computers
Dear Subscriber to TheStreet.com Stocks Under $10,
thestreet.com - Mar 24, 2006
Now let's take a look at the portfolio and some of the
moves we made this week. One quick note: Ones are stocks we would buy now, while
Twos are stocks we would buy only on a pullback from
current levels. And as a reminder:
-- A Game Breaker is going to change the landscape of an
industry, as Intel, Microsoft and Wal-Mart did in their
sectors. Investors can make big money in these stocks by
getting in before the crowd. -- Inflection Point stocks have a broken business model
that's on the mend but has yet to be recognized by the
market. Investors who recognize a turnaround early can
pocket strong returns. -- Stealth Stocks are often unknown names to the general
public, but can be hugely profitable investments,
especially when they score well in the Alpha component of
our proprietary rating system... Also, technical problems can be
addressed by phone and over the Internet, so there is no
need for expensive service calls and downtime is limited. Finally, Web-based software has a higher employee adoption
rate as it is user-friendly. With RightNow among the top
on-demand CRM providers, we believe the company will
benefit from the trend of Web-based software and deliver
40% to 50% sales bookings growth in 2006. With that in
mind, we believe shares can ultimately trade to $20. Services Acquisition Corp.
http://www.thestreet.com/k/su/_googlen/archives/200603241657.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEN&cm_cat=SU&cm_ite=003966
Why successful IT needs good governance
VNUNet.com - Mar 23, 2006
’IT is propelled by a holistic approach and a service transformation programmeto secure one view of the customer. Nine contact centres have been consolidated into one multimedia IP-basedcentre under the control of a new customer services department. The Avaya-supplied system, which integrates with Siebel customer relationshipmanagement (CRM) software, was designed and implemented by contact centreservices company Sabio in a £1. Roberts says the council selected Sabio, which will provide support duringthe next five years, as a best-of-breed partner. ‘As a council we have a lot of specialist areas, so it’s difficult forexternal service providers to come in and deliver the whole package,’ he says. Adopting a holistic network infrastructure scheme has increased resilienceand stability, and enabled new innovations, such as the Leeds Learning Network,which connects schools, the local education authority, libraries and otherlearning centres... Every user will be provided with a personalised interface, which will tailorservices to the individual’s requirements. Users will also be given roamingaccess to work files and assignments. The environment is modelled on Microsoft Outlook and includes a task list forpupils’ assignments that then appear on teachers’ to-do lists when they arecompleted. Patrick Kirk, lifelong learning infrastructure manager at the council, saysthe organisation is bringing the workflow of a business environment into ateaching environment. ‘The most important thing is that it will enable collaboration. For example,groups of schools will be able to work together on minority subjects in virtualrooms,’ he says. Because access will be enabled through portable devices, Kirk says thecouncil is encouraging schools to allow mobile phones.
http://www.vnunet.com/computing/analysis/2152593/why-successful-needs-governance
NetSuite aims to file IPO, move into China by year-end
InfoWorld - Mar 23, 2006
NetSuite positions its software as covering the area between "QuickBooks and SAP," in other words the midmarket not served by Intuit Inc. 's entry-level accounting software or SAP AG's enterprise applications, Nelson said. NetSuite offers a combination of hosted enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM) and electronic commerce applications for companies employing under 500 staff, he added. The company currently has around 7,000 customers, 50 percent of whom employ less than 100 workers. NetSuite's primary competitor is Salesforce. com but the company is likely to also face off more frequently against SAP, Oracle Corp. and Microsoft Corp... The company currently has around 7,000 customers, 50 percent of whom employ less than 100 workers. NetSuite's primary competitor is Salesforce. com but the company is likely to also face off more frequently against SAP, Oracle Corp. and Microsoft Corp. as those firms venture further into hosted applications. Competing against Oracle could prove particularly interesting, given that Oracle CEO Larry Ellison is one of the founders and the lead investor in NetSuite. Through his Tako Ventures LLC investment company, Ellison owns between 50 and 60 percent of NetSuite, according to Nelson.
http://www.infoworld.com/archives/emailPrint.jsp?R=printThis&A=/article/06/03/23/76752_HNnetsuiteipo_1.html&source=searchresult
See you soon.
